Post by Roy on Mar 11, 2011 19:30:32 GMT
World’s oldest canoe revealed
New discoveries have been made about what is possibly the oldest birch bark canoe in existence.
Estimated to be over 250 years old (and now under the care of the National Maritime Museum
in Falmouth), the canoe was discovered on the Enys Estate in Penryn, where it was being
stored in one of the family’s barns. It is believed to have been brought to the UK by Lt John Enys,
after his time fighting in the American War of Independence.
Henri Vaillancourt, an American expert on birch bark canoes and co-founder of the Trust
for Native American Cultures and Crafts, said: “The canoe is readily identifiable as a type
made by the Malecite and Abnaki tribes of Southern Quebec and, judging from illustrations
from the 1700s, could well have been made by the Mohawk or Huron tirbes.
The canoe also has a rounded gunnel structure, a common feature in early period canoes,
but one that became increasingly rare. All of this evidence is consistent with the journals
of Lt Enys, so it seems likely that the canoe was indeed brought to the UK by him in the
1780s. If this is the case, then it represents the oldest known full sized birch bark canoe
in existence to date.” After September, the canoe will be repatriated to Canada where the
Canadian Canoe Museum will conduct further research into its origins, so if you want to see it,
head for Cornwall now.
www.nmmc.co.uk
New discoveries have been made about what is possibly the oldest birch bark canoe in existence.
Estimated to be over 250 years old (and now under the care of the National Maritime Museum
in Falmouth), the canoe was discovered on the Enys Estate in Penryn, where it was being
stored in one of the family’s barns. It is believed to have been brought to the UK by Lt John Enys,
after his time fighting in the American War of Independence.
Henri Vaillancourt, an American expert on birch bark canoes and co-founder of the Trust
for Native American Cultures and Crafts, said: “The canoe is readily identifiable as a type
made by the Malecite and Abnaki tribes of Southern Quebec and, judging from illustrations
from the 1700s, could well have been made by the Mohawk or Huron tirbes.
The canoe also has a rounded gunnel structure, a common feature in early period canoes,
but one that became increasingly rare. All of this evidence is consistent with the journals
of Lt Enys, so it seems likely that the canoe was indeed brought to the UK by him in the
1780s. If this is the case, then it represents the oldest known full sized birch bark canoe
in existence to date.” After September, the canoe will be repatriated to Canada where the
Canadian Canoe Museum will conduct further research into its origins, so if you want to see it,
head for Cornwall now.
www.nmmc.co.uk
